This Week in Odessa History

Churches were to be found every few miles throughout the countryside in the early days of the Odessa area. Usually they were served by itinerant ministers, who either traveled by horseback or by wagon to serve their several congregations. Often, it was two or three weeks, sometimes six weeks, before the pastor could make the rounds again.

The Emmanuel Lutheran Church, five miles south of Lauer, was one of the early churches of the Odessa rural area.

Four hundred and fifty people filled the new Emmanuel Lutheran Church south of Lauer to overflowing at its dedicatory service held Sunday.

The opening service at the door was conducted by the Rev. Henry Brockman, pastor of the church, whose excellent work made the new church building possible.

Few churches have ever been built with the rapidity this one was. It was just one month from the time the meeting was held to raise funds until the church was dedicated.

Most surprising is the remarkably low cost of the new building. Pastor Brockman told The Record that the actual cash outlay for the new building was only, $1,800. This was made possible by labor contributions from the membership, which represents only 20 families.

100 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

November 21, 1913

The state Department of agriculture, in an effort to improve the quality of dairy stock and to induce care in handling milk, is attempting to induce leading creameries and large purchasers of milk and cream generally, to grade what they buy and establish different prices for different grades. Just as it took grain grading to improve the quality of wheat grown by the farmers of eastern Washington, so will milk and cream grading, the department believes, tend to the establishment of higher standards and production of a better quality of dairy products.

The state of Washington should not sell or permit to be sold to private settlers any lands which are not capable of producing in reasonable quantities the necessaries of life and in doing this very thing a certain class of real estate dealers is working a great injustice on the state, is the opinion of State Forester, E.W. Ferries, who is an advocate of the reforestation of the less valuable logged-off lands of the state.

75 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

November 24,1938

The next session of the legislature must either rewrite the social security legislation of the state to bar aged persons who have relatives able to support them from receiving pensions, or it must provide millions of dollars annually in new taxes to meet increased pension payments as the result of a supreme court decision late last week in Olympia.

The language of the state pension law specifically provides for payment of a $30 monthly pension to persons past 65 who satisfy the statutory requirements.

Thirteen Odessa Boy Scouts, accompanied by leader E.H. Sowder, assistant Robert Anderson and committeeman M.J. Galle, drove to Wilbur to take in the Lincoln county court of honor.

Awards to Odessa Scouts included the following: first class, Laddie and Eddie Hein, Lawrence Kissler; tender foot, Robert Schafer; merit medals, Billy Raugust, James Odell, Leslie Lee, Towerth Derr and Calvin Graedel Jr., life and star.

50 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

November 21,1963

It is always exciting when the Lions put our their 200 plus turkeys at the November Turkey Carnival, but the pioneer story we relate saw 1000 turkeys loose in town. A turkey was in every tree. Prowling with lanterns and flashlights, resident gathered up the elusive birds in the greatest turkey roundup the town ever had.

It was the year 1924, when a depression had gathered and business had its setbacks. Local merchants had given credit to a group of men who started a turkey farm east of town.

It looked like a sure thing. Thanksgiving was less than a month away. The farm had 1000 turkeys. All that was needed was to get the turkeys, force them into fattening for market, and collect the profits.

The turkeys, were liberated and a group of townsmen herded them eastward to the Knott (King) ranch, where they were kept for a few days. Mr. Knott soon tired of the birds and they were driven across country, through town to the Nass ranch west of town. The following day Mr. Nass started to complain, as he tried to keep the bunch rounded up with a saddle horse.

A large livery barn was next called into use and the turkeys were driven from the Nass ranch to town and housed therein. During the night the turkeys found an escape and when discovered had scattered through the town. The flashlight roundup then started.

Dressed birds sell better, so a turkey plucking party was arranged. The workmen were knee deep in feathers. It was maintained that the feathers were still blowing about the country years later.

10 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

November 20, 2003

Two local churches in Odessa are currently donating to Operation Christmas Child. This is the world’s largest children’s Christmas project of kids helping kids.

Heritage Church and the Zion-Emmanuel Lutheran Church are contributing to this worthy cause that helps needy children.

Over 7 million children in more than 100 countries on six continents will receive personal gift-filled shoe boxes through this kids helping kids project. For many of these children, the gift boxes will be the only present they have ever received.

More than 425 born-to-buck horses has been grazing here in the Odessa area.

Steve and Donna Grub are in their second year of feeding and giving water to bucking horses owned by Big Bend Rodeo Company and Flying Five Rodeo Company. The horses eat 140 bales of hay per day.

25 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

November 17, 1988

The $2339 pledged to Dr. Jim Cornell before his Tri-State Bicycle Trek to raise funds to fight multiple sclerosis were third highest for the 119 cyclists who made the Washington-Idaho-Montana trip.

Overall, 119 riders raised $39,425 of a $40,000 goal.

The Odessa High School football Tigers, expecting a winning season but in a growing year with only five seniors on the roster, ran through the seven-game eight-man schedule with only a single close encounter.

“They’re ready physically, and they’re ready mentally,” Coach Myron Kramer said of the team. “We’ve had a good season, all season, as far as injuries are concerned--and it looks like we’ll be going into the Kibbie Dome in good shape and ready to play.”